A note on Pride.

Pride month isn’t just a facade of rainbows and glittery eyeshadow.

Why is Pride important? If queer people strive for normalcy, why is there a whole month celebrating being queer?

The truth is, we live in a world where one’s mere existence is considered an act of rebellion, something so outrageously against the status quo that it fuels hate and discrimination to the point of violence. We live in a world where sexuality will always be looked at as a defining characteristic of someone, where being queer means you will always be different. Where you may feel accepted and loved in a group of people who care about you, yet someone might casually crack a joke or make a “funny” comment that’s a brutal reminder for you not to get too comfortable. Remember, you’re still queer. You’re still weird. Our love and acceptance are a favor.

Queer people will always be considered different. Pride is about reclaiming that difference. Taking the stereotypes and alienation imposed on them and turning them into a sense of community, belonging. Reclaiming pride in your identity when you’ve always been shamed for it. Pride, for many, is not about feeling special, but just a way of feeling okay. Okay to exist, okay to love, okay to be who they are. Pride isn’t a product of being queer, it’s a product of society’s response to queer people. And as long as you keep calling them different, they will wear their identity with pride.

A brief history

The month of June is host to many cultural events that make it a special month worldwide: Father’s Day, Juneteenth, Midsommar, International Yoga Day, and others. But on June 28, 1999, a historic proclamation was made in the United States by then-President Bill Clinton, declaring that every year, June would be declared as “Gay & Lesbian Pride Month.” While this naming left out other LGBTQ+ communities, President Obama would go on to amend this by declaring June as “LGBT Pride Month” in 2009. Clinton’s proclamation was a historically progressive step for the LGBTQ+ community, being the most significant formal recognition of the community by the US government up to that point. The date was chosen specifically to commemorate the Stonewall riots that took place in New York in 1969, which were the catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement in the US and globally (Learn more here).

However, the Indian government and society at large have not always been as supportive of queer rights, with homosexuality still seen as taboo and a sin in most societies today, despite homosexuality not just being common across the animal kingdom, but also having been depicted in humans over 4400 years ago. Which drives the question: how have we only moved backwards? Walls are built to be broken down, and social barriers are something that must be eradicated over time with consistency and dedication, and queer movements across India have only gained strength in recent years. With the first-ever pride march being held in Kolkata in 2009, Hyderabad, which is commonly considered a more conservative town, had to wait 4 years before its first parade. Known as the Hyderabad Queer Pride, it’s now become a staple of the city, being held annually in February, and provides a chance for queer residents to be themselves, and find community with individuals that won’t judge them for their existence. Recent years have seen more queer-owned businesses, organizations, and freelancers pop up to help grow the community and spread awareness. Here, we’ve compiled a list of some of them for you to check out, and hopefully show some support!

Swabhimana Yatra (Hyderabad Pride Parade)

February 12, 2013, saw the first ever pride parade in Hyderabad, making it the 12th city in India to have a parade, 4 years after Kolkata held the first. The first parade was set to be held in 2012, but was denied permission by the police due to “security concerns”. In earlier years, a lot of attendees wore masks and dupattas to hide their identities due to the taboo and social stigma. Subsequent versions of the parade created many special moments, like in 2015, where the parade carried on even in heavy rains and storms. In 2017, many religious individuals came forward to express themselves, highlighting the existence of both their faith and sexuality. In 2022, people also created a “grief corner” and carried photos and names of queer friends and family who’d lost their lives to COVID-19. Now, the parade is held annually in February as a reminder of the grassroots movement over a decade ago.

Organizations:

Mobbera Foundation: One of the oldest queer foundations in Hyderabad, Mobbera was founded in 2015 with the hope to create more inclusive spaces and bring communities together. They’re best known for their annual flagship event, Queer Fiesta, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024, They’ve also conducted multiple flash mobs and free health camps for both physical and mental health, including consultation by AIIMS doctors. They’ve also held a multitude of other events, including the All-India Conclave for Queer Mobilization in 2022, and recently the Interfaith Pride Fest in 2025. Mobbera also helped place individuals in over 15 privacy-assured corporate roles in companies like Amazon, Dell, and Uber.
Queer Nilayam: Founded in 2021, Nilayam holds regular meetings (online and in-person) to discuss well-being, self-identity and more. They launched Telangana’s first queer E-magazine, Queernama, featuring poetry, essays, artwork, and LGBTQ+ cinema reviews, and also conducted the Satrangi Mela in 2022, with 35+ stalls led by small queer-owned businesses, drag, music, and more.
The Firefly Community – TFC aims to foster safe spaces for open dialogues on LGBTQ+ inclusion, sexual violence, mental health, etc. Their debut public event was held at Lamakaan in 2018, where panels and discussions were held on body positivity, LGBTQ+ rights, and more, months before IPC 377 (Learn more here) was decriminalized. They’ve gone on to conduct multiple seminars and workshops since, including “Healing Through Art” in 2019, and have become a staple in the LGBTQ+ community in Hyderabad, driving meaningful discussions and spreading awareness.
Dragvanti: Founded in 2020 to provide a platform for drag performers in India – offering resources such as a drag directory, performance opportunities, and educational content – Dragvanti has become one of the most active and prominent groups within the queer community in Hyderabad. They’ve been the hosts of the annual Hyderabad Queer Dance Festival since 2023, hosted the Hyderabad Drag Fest in 2022, and were collaborators of the aforementioned Interfaith Pride Fest. Along with offering workshops, they’ve also collaborated with various organizations, combining activists and drag, and even culinary and drag!

Queer-owned Businesses and Freelancers:

Telugay Art – Oil paintings, clay vases, handcrafted jewelry, and more. (link)
Sparsh Cottage Industries – Natural, preservative-free soaps. (link)
Tobu Tori – Homemade gifts – clay, resin, and wire crafts. (link)
Minion Crafts – Coasters, ear-rings, and fluid-art; Also does workshops. (link)
UwU Designs – Affordable queer-themed merch. (link)
People’s Choice Café: Hyderabad’s first LGBTQ+ café – holds multiple events. (link)
BeUnic – Marketplace showing 25+ queer product lines; Appeared on Shark Tank India. (link)
QT Centre – Drop-in community resource centre for queer/trans mental health, legal aid, and wellness. (link)
DebbieDesignedIt – Graphic Designer. (link)
Nagvi Art – Visual Artist. (link)
Jee by Gee – Affordable, handmade scrunchies. (link)

Whilst June may be over, it’s important to remember that pride is not just something to be celebrated for one month, but rather an inherent part of queer individuals’ lives, and the fight for their equality and the elimination of social stigmas and taboos, as well as legal oppression, must be one that we never give up. Even if you are unable to attend events or contribute financially, make sure you provide a safe space to those in your life that are queer, and call out homophobia when you see it, in any way, shape, or form. You don’t have to be queer (I myself am not) to support the movement for equality, you just have to be human.

As a closeted kid once asked me, “Why are people proud about being gay? It’s intrinsic only, na?”

(Edit 11/07 18:00 hrs: Links were updated for accuracy. 14/07 15:00 hrs: Year of first Hyderabad pride parade was corrected.)